Gwyneth Paltrow’s high school yearbook revealed that her biggest teenage fear was “obesity.” The editors of the yearbook, who attended her posh all-girls private school Spence in Manhattan, made note of this detail. Paltrow, known for her roles in films like “Shallow Hal,” has faced criticism for her portrayal of an obese character in the movie.
In the yearbook, Paltrow quoted a line from the 1989 comedy “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” writing, “Be excellent to each other and party on, dudes.” This quote reflects her carefree and positive attitude during her teenage years. However, her role in “Shallow Hal” as an obese woman led to accusations of being “fatphobic.”
Paltrow later admitted regretting taking on the role, describing the experience of wearing a fat suit as “sad” and “disturbing.” She expressed feeling humiliated and embarrassed by the reactions of others while wearing the suit. Despite the success of the movie at the global box office, Paltrow considers it her “least favorite performance.”
Special FX make-up artist Tony Gardner spent four hours applying a 25lb prosthetic fat suit on Paltrow for the role in “Shallow Hal.” The actress’s body double, Ivy Snitzer, revealed that she struggled with body image issues after the film and underwent gastric band surgery. Paltrow’s assistant, Kevin Keating, mentioned that he would have advised her against the role if given the chance.
In a tell-all biography about Paltrow, it was revealed that she lost weight before the 1999 Academy Awards to the point where her gown appeared baggy. The author spoke to numerous sources to compile the biography, which sheds light on Paltrow’s struggles with body image and strict diets.
Paltrow recently shared on her Goop podcast that she was tired of her strict Paleo diet and was reintroducing foods like sourdough bread and cheese into her diet. She also mentioned undergoing fat-burning and muscle-building treatments to maintain her figure.
The biography also delves into Paltrow’s past relationships, including her romance with Ben Affleck. The book reveals that their relationship ended after Affleck allegedly cheated on her. Paltrow and Affleck had a tumultuous relationship marked by physical chemistry but overshadowed by his struggles with alcoholism and gambling.
Overall, the new book about Gwyneth Paltrow provides insight into the actress’s personal struggles with body image, relationships, and career choices. It showcases her journey from a high school student with fears of obesity to a successful actress grappling with the pressures of Hollywood.
